Silt Fence Unwinder

ABSTRACT

A silt fence unwinder for manually unraveling and deploying a silt fence. The apparatus includes a base and a back, a front, and a central trough attached to the base. The back has a pair of panels attached to one another and is triangular in shape when viewed laterally. The front also includes a pair of panels but is preferably of an inverted u-shape in cross-section when viewed laterally defined by a rounded top, the rounded top joining each panel. As a result of this configuration, a wound silt fence can be situated between the front and the back within the central trough, and the leading edge of the silt fence can be continuously pulled over and away from the rounded top as the silt fence spins within the central trough and unwinds for use.

BACKGROUND

As is known in the art, a silt fence is a temporary sediment control device used in locations such as construction sites to protect water quality in nearby bodies of water such as streams, rivers, and lakes. Typically made from some type of geotextile fabric, a typical fence consists of a piece of filtering fabric disposed and stretched between a series of wooden stakes to be used as perimeter control. For example, the stakes are installed on the downhill side of the fence, and the bottom edge of the fabric is trenched in the soil and backfilled on the uphill side to form the seep-proof barrier.

Without some type of unrolling apparatus, the silt fence is unrolled manually, either by one individual holding or standing on one end of the fence while the other individual unravels the fabric rotation by rotation, or the fence is placed on the ground by a single individual and unraveled slowly by repetitively turning over the fence turn-by-turn as it resides on the ground. In both instances this becomes burdensome and time-consuming due to the length and overall size of the fence, and consistently unfolding the fabric over the ground could result in damage to the fabric.

In an attempt to avoid the slow unraveling process, certain complex devices have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,958 teaches a stationary pole arranged in a vertical orientation. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,807 to Lopez a coil of fence is contained in a drum adapted to be mounted to tractors and other vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,923 to Wheeler teaches a silt fence method and apparatus which is tractor mounted.

The above and similar devices are typically geared for rigid, wire fencing because the weight of the metal fencing must be more fully contained within the un-roller. Furthermore, vertically oriented, rigid poles are not well-suited for flexible fabric because a silt fence has no consistent point of rotation due in large part to the folding fabric and intermittent, bulky wooden stakes, which could get hung up during rotation. Most poles typically are made part of the unraveling system of the tractor, and in some cases tractors are not used on-site, and if they are, they are not ordinarily equipped with such mechanisms. Of course, this equipment can also be quite expensive and is not portable. The instant invention overcomes the above and other deficiencies, as follows.

SUMMARY

The objective of the present invention is to allow for the manual and efficient deployment of a silt fence using a device which is cost-effective and need not be mounted to vehicles and tractors.

It is a further an objective of the instant invention to provide an apparatus which can be easily transported for use in alternate locations.

Accordingly, what is provided is a silt fence unwinder, comprising a back, a front, and a central trough defined between the back and the front. Each section is mounted to parallel and opposing longitudinal supports. The back has a back forward panel and back rear panel and is preferably triangular in shape (and cross-section) when viewed laterally (transaxial to the longitudinal supports) such that each panel extends obliquely upward to meet at a juncture. The front includes a vertical front forward panel and a vertical front rear panel parallel to and opposing the front forward panel. The front is preferably of an inverted u-shape in cross-section when viewed laterally defined by a rounded top, the rounded top joining each vertical panel. As a result of this configuration, a wound silt fence can be situated between the front and the back within the central trough, and the leading edge of the silt fence can be continuously pulled over and away from the rounded top as the silt fence spins within the central trough and unwinds for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the instant silt fence unwinder.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the instant invention in use with a silt fence.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention will now be described in detail in relation to a preferred embodiment and implementation thereof which is exemplary in nature and descriptively specific as disclosed. As is customary, it will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention encompasses such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated assembly, and such further applications of the principles of the invention illustrated herein, as would normally occur to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates. This detailed description of this invention is not meant to limit the invention, but is meant to provide a detailed disclosure of the best mode of practicing the invention.

With reference then to FIGS. 1 and 2, the instant invention is an unwinder 1 for silt fences, the silt fence 1 a typically being of the geotextile, non-rigid fabric type with intermittent wood stakes, which is traditionally kept in rolled form when not in use. Unwinder 1 apparatus and all components may be made of sheet metal, plastic, composite, or any smooth, rigid material.

Unwinder 1 includes a front 3 and a back 2 integrally joined to one another through central trough 8. The front 3, back 2 and central trough 8 are each secured to a pair of longitudinal supports, wherein left support 7 is generally parallel to opposing right support 6. Each support 6, 7 forms the base of the unwinder 1 such that unwinder 1 can be situated on the ground at a site location. Preferably, supports 6, 7 are paired, although one or more would be appropriate. However, use of only one support may not provide the requisite stable base, and any more than two may increase the weight and impact the portable nature of the apparatus.

The back 2 comprises two panels, a back rear panel 12 and a back forward panel 11. The back rear panel 12 is attached to the rear edge 14 of each support and angles obliquely upward to connect to the opposing back forward panel 11 which also angles obliquely upward to form a juncture with the back rear panel 12. In this configuration then, when viewed laterally, or transaxial to the longitudinal supports 6,7, the back 2 of unwinder 1 is substantially triangular in shape (and in cross-section), having either a rounded or pointed back top 5. “Substantially” as used herein means the “triangle” formed by the back rear panel 12 and back forward panel 11 can have a pointed top juncture and therefore be an actual triangle, or the juncture may be slightly rounded. In either instance it is preferred that the angle of the back rear panel be less than ninety-degrees and the angle of the back front panel also be non-vertical or greater than ninety-degrees, for instance 120 degrees when viewed from the same center point, as shown. Each angle may be identical or differ slightly. Back forward panel 11 is less than vertical so that silt fence 1 a can easily rotate and slide up and down the back forward panel 11 while being unrolled, for instance as the force of pulling and unwinding the silt fence 1 a in one direction causes the silt fence 1 a to recoil in the opposite direction, along the face of the back forward panel 11 as the silt fence resides and spins in the central trough 8.

The front 3 of unwinder 1 includes a vertically disposed front forward panel 10 and a vertical front rear panel 9. Front rear panel 9 is preferably parallel to and opposes front forward panel 10, situated near the front edge 15 of each support perpendicular to the supports. By being near at not directly at the front edge 15, the front forward panel 10 and thus the apparatus is more resistant to flipping over during the silt fence 1 a unrolling process as the front edges 15 of each support jut out past the front forward panel 10 to increase the force required to undesirably flip the unwinder 1 during use.

Integrally joining the front rear panel 9 to the front forward panel 10 is a rounded front top panel 4. Accordingly, when viewed laterally or trans-axial to the longitudinal supports, the front 3 is substantially an inverted U-shape in cross-section. “Substantially” as used in this instance means the front rear panel 9 and the front forward panel 10 are both oriented close to or exactly vertical, or close to or exactly perpendicular to the supports 6, 7 for reasons set forth below. In the preferred embodiment, front top panel 4 and thus the top surface of the front 3 is rounded as above so that when pulling the silt fence 1 a away from the apparatus, the silt fence 1 a travels across a smooth, rounded surface so as to not tear or puncture the silt fence 1 a while it is being un-rolled manually.

The central trough 8 is formed between the front 3 and back 2 of the unwinder 1 apparatus, disposed across the medial portions 13 of each left support 7 and right support 6. Central trough 8 is thus generally U-shaped, configured to contain a rolled silt fence 1 a. “Generally U-shaped” is used to refer to the back forward panel 11 forming one side of central trough 8 and the front rear panel 9 forming the opposing side of central trough 8, resulting in preferably an asymmetric configuration of the trough 8 but still generally u-shaped. Front rear panel 9 being vertical or close to vertical provides the most practical amount of lateral resistance to the rolled silt fence 1 a so that the entire rolled silt fence 1 a cannot be pulled over the front top panel 4 of front 3 and out of the device during the deployment process, while back forward panel 11 being angled, as above, can allow for some lateral and rotational movement of the silt fence 1 a luring the unwinding process.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the unwinder 1, wherein a longitudinal prop 16 is connected to the underside of one of the supports 6, preferably traveling the length of support 6. An enclosure panel 17 is then connected to opposing support 7 abutting the entire side of unwinder 1 to therefore close off central trough 8 on one side, opposite the now “propped” side. When the unwinder 1 is placed on the ground for use, prop 16 slightly elevates unwinder 1 on one side only thereby angling central trough 8. Accordingly, silt fence 1 a is better retained within central trough 8 when being unrolled as it is kept from sliding out of central trough 8 as it abuts enclosure panel 17 due to gravity. Shown in this embodiment is the prop 16 in tubular form of a length approximately equal to support 6. Prop 16 may also be any type or number of vertical supports as long as they are attached to one support 6 only. Accordingly, “means for propping up” one side of unwinder is intended to encompass any tube, post, or other structure attached to one of supports 6 (or 7) on the underside thereof.

In use then, unwinder 3 is placed on the ground at or near the site of placement, for instance at a construction site. Silt fence 1 a in rolled, unused form is placed within central trough 8. The leading edge 1 b of silt fence 1 a would be that edge that is pulled away from the unwinder 3. This leading edge 1 b is manually grasped by a user and the user, while holding the leading edge 1 b, walks away from the unwinder 1 while the silt fence 1 a remains in place on the apparatus and spins within the central trough 8 as it unwinds. During the unwinding process the silt fence 1 a will typically brush along the rounded, front top panel 4 until it is ultimately completely unwound and pulled from the apparatus. In this manner, a long silt fence 1 a can be quickly deployed for use by one individual without the burden of repetitively turning over the rolled portion of the silt fence 1 a turn-by-turn across the ground. 

1. A silt fence unwinder, comprising: a base; a back further comprising a back forward panel attached to said base and an opposing back rear panel attached to said base, said back rear panel angled obliquely upward to form a juncture with said back forward panel, said back forward panel angled obliquely downward, wherein said back is substantially triangular when viewed laterally; a front further comprising a front forward panel attached to said base, a front rear panel attached to said base, and a rounded front top panel integrally joining said front forward panel to said front rear panel, wherein said front is substantially an inverted U-shape when viewed laterally; and, a central trough formed between said front and said back having one side thereof formed from said back forward panel and the other side thereof formed from said front rear panel; wherein said central trough is configured to contain said silt fence in rolled form such that said silt fence can be pulled over said rounded front top and unwound as a user pulls a leading edge of said silt fence away from said unwinder.
 2. The silt fence unwinder of claim 1, wherein said central trough is generally U-shaped when viewed laterally and asymmetric as a result of said back rear panel being non-vertical and said front rear panel being substantially vertical.
 3. The silt fence unwinder of claim 1, wherein said front rear panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said base such that the vertical orientation of said front rear panel prohibits lateral movement of said silt fence and removal of said silt fence from said winder when said silt fence is in rolled form and being unwound.
 4. The silt fence unwinder of claim 3, wherein said front forward panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said base and parallel to said front rear panel.
 5. The silt fence unwinder of claim 1, wherein said rounded front top is of a smooth surface configured to prohibit damage to said silt fence.
 6. A silt fence unwinder, comprising: one or more supports, each said support having a rear edge, a media portion, and a front edge; aback having a back forward panel and an opposing back rear panel, said back rear panel attached to said rear edge of said support, said back forward panel attached to said back rear panel at a top of said back rear panel; a front having a front forward panel, a front rear panel, and a rounded front top panel, said front forward panel attached near said front edge of said support, said front rear panel attached near said medial portion of said support and disposed opposite from said front forward panel, and said rounded front top integrally joining said front forward panel to said front rear panel; and, a central trough formed between said front and said back disposed at said medial portion of said support having one side thereof formed from said back forward panel and the other side thereof formed from said front rear panel; wherein said central trough is configured to contain said silt fence in rolled form such that said silt fence can be pulled over said rounded front top and unwound as a user pulls a leading edge of said silt fence away from said unwinder.
 7. The silt fence unwinder of claim 6, wherein said central trough is generally U-shaped when viewed laterally and asymmetric as a result of said back rear panel being non-vertical and said front rear panel being substantially vertical.
 8. The silt fence unwinder of claim 6, wherein said front rear panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said supports such that the vertical orientation of said front rear panel prohibits lateral movement of said silt fence and removal of said silt fence from said unwinder when said silt fence is in rolled form and being unwound.
 9. The silt fence unwinder of claim 8, wherein said front forward panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said supports and parallel to said front rear panel.
 10. The silt fence unwinder of claim 6, wherein said rounded front top is of a smooth surface configured to prohibit damage to said silt fence.
 11. The silt fence unwinder of claim 6, further comprising an enclosure panel connected to one of said supports and abutting said central trough to close off one side said central trough.
 12. The silt fence unwinder of claim 11, further comprising a prop attached to an underside of one of said supports opposite the support including said enclosure panel to slightly elevate said unwinder on one side only.
 13. A silt fence unwinder, comprising: one or more supports, each said support having a rear edge, a medial portion, and a front edge; aback having aback forward panel and an opposing back rear panel, said back rear panel attached to said rear edge of said support and angled obliquely upward, said back forward panel attached to said back rear panel at a top of said back rear panel to form a juncture and angled obliquely downward towards said medial portion of said support, wherein said back is substantially triangular when viewed laterally; a front having a front forward panel, a front rear panel, and a rounded front top panel, said front forward panel attached near said front edge of said support, said front rear panel attached near said medial portion of said support and disposed opposite from said front forward panel, and said rounded front top integrally joining said front forward panel to said front rear panel, wherein said front is substantially an inverted U-shape when viewed laterally; a central trough formed between said front and said back disposed at said medial portion of said support having one side thereof formed from said back forward panel and the other side thereof formed from said front rear panel; wherein said central trough is configured to contain said silt fence in rolled form such that said silt fence can be pulled over said rounded front top and unwound as a user pulls a leading edge of said silt fence away from said unwinder.
 14. The silt fence unwinder of claim 13, wherein said central trough is generally U-shaped when viewed laterally and asymmetric as a result of said back rear panel being non-vertical and said front rear panel being substantially vertical.
 15. The silt fence unwinder of claim 13, wherein said front rear panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said supports such that the vertical orientation of said front rear panel prohibits lateral movement of said silt fence and removal of said silt fence from said unwinder when said silt fence is in rolled form and being unwound.
 16. The silt fence unwinder of claim 13, wherein said front forward panel is vertically oriented perpendicular to said supports and parallel to said front rear panel.
 17. The silt fence unwinder of claim 13, wherein said rounded front top is of a smooth surface configured to prohibit damage to said silt fence.
 18. The silt fence unwinder of claim 13, further comprising an enclosure panel connected to one of said supports and abutting said central trough to close off one side said central trough.
 19. The silt fence unwinder of claim 18, further comprising a means for propping up one side of said unwinder to angle said central trough down towards said enclosure panel. 